Playlist:

playlist Go to the Fruit, Bearing (topic) playlist

All Leaves, No Fruit

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Jesus cursed the fig tree because it lacked fruit and produced only leaves. It symbolized pharisaical hypocrisy, where works and talk are not in alignment.


Producing Fruit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

To be made clean only prepares us for producing fruit. If we stand still, simply resting on our justification, the dark forces will pull us backwards.


Fruit of the Body

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

Teaching God's laws to our children is not just a suggestion but a command. If we do not rear and educate our children, Satan will.


Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

We tend to avoid acknowledging our weaknesses, but at some point, each of us will admit our powerlessness and inability to carry out God's will on our own.


Lessons From Roots (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Fruit is not produced immediately; it is produced only when a plant is both mature and stable enough that mere survival is no longer its top priority.


Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Producing fruit is not simply a matter of having Jesus Christ or being forgiven. He says we will not produce anything unless we go on growing in Him.


A Time to Grow

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

Horticulture is not so easy as merely planting a seed and watching it grow. Tending and keeping implies continually watering, fertilizing, and cultivating.


Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Jesus does not attribute tragedy directly to any person's sins as the Jews did; instead, He affirms the sinfulness of everyone.


The Vinedresser - Revisited

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explains that 'takes away' should be more properly rendered 'takes up,' meaning new grape vines are lifted out of the dirt.


Lessons From Roots (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If we are intent on bearing fruit, we can do some things to make sure that we are not inhibiting the process. We find them in one of the fig tree parables.


Like a Growing Seed (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Like its physical counterpart, spiritual growth happens slowly. A newly baptized Christian will not produce the fruit of the spirit as easily as a mature one.


The Patient Pineapple

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

The majority of the growth or maturation of a pineapple plant takes place from within. The same holds true for our calling and conversion.


Responding to God's Pruning Is Not Passive (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Our Heavenly Father, the Vine Dresser, has provided His junior partners some valuable tools to assist in pruning and cultivating His emerging spiritual crop.


The True Vine of Agape

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Jesus Christ is the Vine and His Father is the Vinedresser; we are the branches, subject to trimming and pruning in order that we bear abundant fruit.


Like a Tree

'Ready Answer' by Mike Ford

Trees provide living illustrations of godly behavior that will prepare Christians to partake of the Tree of Life in God's Kingdom.


Conditions of Discipleship (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Mike Fuhrer

If our worship of God ends in slavish obedience, so does our salvation! While He wants us to obey, God is not looking for obedient drudges but loyal children.


Lessons From Roots (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Imagine a man studying the Bible for two hours a day. But if he then spends his other waking hours watching cartoons, he will derive little benefit from study.


The Cursed Tree

'Ready Answer' by Dan Elmore

Jesus' cursing of the fig tree has puzzled and even disturbed Bible readers for centuries, as it just does not seem to be something our Savior would do.


Excellence in Character (Part Three)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Each Christian must develop godliness through righteous behavior and service, adding virtue to their faith.


What Is Real Conversion? (Part Six)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Conversion must out in changed behavior, the fruit of God's Spirit accomplishing its miraculous work in us. The Corinthians provide a negative example.


Hebrews (Part Six): God's Salvation Communication

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God personally communicated with Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and to us through His Son. With the Scriptures, God teaches His faithful today.


Seedtime and Harvest

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

Like the farmer waiting patiently for the rains, we must wait patiently for the yield of the implanted seed, the fruit God will harvest from us.


Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Without a meaningful relationship with Christ, God's people cannot possibly bear fruit. Our responsibility is to yield to God's creative work in our lives.


The Vinedresser

CGG Weekly by Clyde Finklea

John 15:2 may seem to say that the Vinedresser cuts off every barren branch, but the Greek behind "takes away" shows something else. Here is what God does.


You Are My Friends!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

While it is common on Facebook to defriend/unfriend, Christ's love for His people is a friending with the condition that godly fruit is produced.


Little Things Count!

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

No act is insignificant because of two natural principles: the tendency toward increase and reaping what we sow. They play major roles in our lives.


Hebrews (Part Thirteen): Chapter 2, A Mind-Bending Purpose (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Jewish converts to the Way, although having had the benefit of Messianic prophecies, did not recognize the powerful significance of Psalm 8.


Hebrews: Its Background (Part Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Book of Hebrews is a must-read for all members of God's church who seek the key for spiritual growth through a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.


Jesus Christ: First Savior, Second High Priest, Third King

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The book of Hebrews teaches that our relationship to Christ as our Savior, High Priest, and King is the key to salvation. He shows us the way to the Father.


Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Four)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Government may be the most important subject in the Bible because it touches on how Christians are to govern themselves under the sovereignty of God.


The Fifth Teacher

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Corinth had four positive teachers, yet a mysterious fifth teacher was also influencing them and instilling beliefs that were the source of all the bad fruit.


The Second Greatest Commandment

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Jesus said the greatest commandments were Lord toward God and neighbor. There is no connective between the first and second clauses; they cannot be separated.


God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

We have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.


Our Heavenly Citizenship

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

The rampant disorder in America may encourage God's people to choose political sides, but doing so may place them in a position of opposing God's will.


Five Easily-Neglected Doctrines

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Here are five easily neglected doctrines, which, if carelessly observed or distorted, could jeopardize the salvation of God's people.


Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen

'Ready Answer' by John O. Reid

God's calling and predestination can be confusing, especially the verse that 'many are called, but few are chosen'. Why does God not just choose everyone?


What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Neglecting to feed the flock has been detrimental to preaching the gospel to the world. Because of neglect, members succumb to feeling insignificant.


Four Views of Christ (Part 7)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our lives parallel what Christ experienced: crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and glorification. The death of self must precede resurrection and glory.


John (Part Twenty-Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

In Christ's vine and branch analogy, Jesus presents Himself as the true or genuine Vine, as contrasted to the unfaithful vine (ancient Israel).


Aim for Productivity

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must strive to bear spiritual fruit efficiently and productively. Material well-being is not as good a measure of fruitfulness as is the use of God's gifts.


Spiritual Maturity

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Kingdom parables allude to the process of spiritual maturity, depicting a planted and cultivated seed becoming a sprout, eventually bearing fruit.


Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Six)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Like the four groups of seeds exposed to various qualities of soil, many have heard the true gospel, but few have remained faithful after the onslaught of hardship.


Amending the Soil

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the Parable of the Sower, Christ describes different qualities of soil. We must respond properly to the implantation of the seed—the word of God.


Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Six, Conclusion)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Our responsibility is to yield to God's sovereignty. Nevertheless, God has enabled us to freely sin, but holds us responsible for governing ourselves.


God's Creation and Our Works

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.


Don't Leave the House!

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

As part of Christ's body or household, we have a responsibility to stay attached to the spiritual organism and to respond to the head.